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Thursday, April 21, 2011

The Red Sox today provided fans with a preview of preparations for the celebration of Fenway Park's 100th Anniversary in 2012. As preparations begin, the Club invited all Red Sox fans to join the planning process by sharing their ideas, suggestions, stories and memorabilia. The announcement was made 99 years to the date of the first Major League baseball game played at Fenway Park, on April 20, 1912.

2012 will mark the 100th anniversary of America's Most Beloved Ballpark, the oldest operating Major League facility in the United States. The celebration will highlight Red Sox history over the past hundred years and will also commemorate the wide range of other sports, music, civic, philanthropic, and community events that Fenway Park has hosted during its first century.

"Fenway Park's 100th Anniversary will be an unprecedented and historic celebration," said Red Sox Principal Owner John W. Henry. "From Day One, the preservation of this ballpark has been an issue of paramount importance to our ownership group. Without a doubt, Fenway Park is renowned for its architectural and aesthetic charm. But the character of this ballpark has always been a reflection of the fans who call it home, and we encourage citizens of Red Sox Nation to share their stories and thoughts about what an appropriate celebration should entail."

"From the moment we assumed stewardship of this franchise and ballpark, our ownership group made a sacred commitment to preserve all that's good about Fenway Park," Chairman Tom Werner said. "Now that our decade-long series of major, annual Fenway improvements has concluded, it's only appropriate that we formally kick off our preparations for this historic anniversary. With a celebration built around the sentiments and ideas of our fans, we plan to honor this iconic ballpark's connection to New England and a Nation."

"Fenway Park's scope of sports and civic history is virtually unparalleled," said President/CEO Larry Lucchino. "Through jubilation and heartbreak, victories and near-misses, this jewel of a ballpark has not only endured but thrived. Now, after more than $285 million in total investment over the last decade, we stand on the eve of a momentous occasion and celebration. We are deeply grateful for the help of Mayor Thomas M. Menino and our friends in the Fenway neighborhood who have worked collaboratively over the last 10 years to preserve and protect this ballpark for generations to come. As we commemorate this living museum's past, we look forward to a celebration of America's Most Beloved Ballpark that both citizens of Red Sox Nation and baseball fans will find fitting."

As part of the first phase of preparations, the Club today unveiled four major elements of the 2012 celebration:

Official Fenway Park 2012 logo: The Fenway Park 2012 logo was officially unveiled at today's announcement. It is a look that is timeless, contemporary and with a simplified direction that takes into consideration all the various elements inherent to Fenway Park. The keystone from the original 1912 façade that sits above Gate A acts as the primary backplate, and serves as a metaphor to speak to the relationship between Fenway Park and the Red Sox. The "FENWAY PARK" font and location are taken from the façade, and other fonts in the logo are taken from various signage around the park. The "100 YEARS" is housed in a backplate inspired by the Green Monster scoreboard.
The logo was designed by Michael Mikulec, an independent creative director and graphic designer, and a lifelong Red Sox fan. Michael's career began at ESPN television, and his previous work has included developing brand identities for ABC, MTV, the CW and the NFL Network and, perhaps most notably, Michael's logo was selected as the official mark for NBC's coverage of the 2008 Beijing Olympics. He recently worked with the Red Sox production team to help develop their strategy for the new HD videoboards at Fenway Park.

Official Fenway Park 2012 website: The official Fenway Park 2012 website (www.fenwaypark100.com), designed in conjunction with Major League Baseball Advanced Media (MLBAM), features information and images on Fenway Park's history, including the ballpark's architecture and changes over time, information about current and former Club owners, managers and players, and video clips about special features that make Fenway Park unique. The site, which is the first of its kind for a Major League ballpark in terms of depth and breadth of information, already includes more than 450 unique pages, 90,000+ words of text, over 160 photos and 36 videos, and it will continue to expand over the next two years to include more historical and current content generated by the Club and our fans.

Fenway Park 100th Anniversary Brick Program and Seat Sale: The Boston Red Sox today announced a special opportunity for fans to literally put their mark on the historic ballpark. Fans will have the chance to have a brick with a personalized message placed in the Fenway Park concourse area inside Gate B and Gate C. Bricks will be available in two sizes - 4"x8" and 8"x8" - and each purchase will also include a replica brick and display case. The bricks will be sold for $250 and $475, respectively, plus applicable taxes and fees. The sale of the bricks begins on Thursday, April 28, 2011, and more information is available online at www.fenwaypark100.com.

The team also announced the final opportunity for fans to bring home a pair of authentic seats from Fenway Park. Since 2002, the Red Sox have made annual offseason improvements to Fenway Park. One major component of the 2010-2011 offseason improvements was the replacement of the seats in the lower Right Field seating bowl. From these seats, fans have watched the 2004 and 2007 World Series games and witnessed other historic events such as Dave Roberts' 2004 legendary steal of second base, Carlton Fisk wave the ball fair in 1975, several no-hitters, as well as the 2010 NHL Winter Classic, Frozen Fenway College Hockey Doubleheader, Football at Fenway, and many memorable concerts. Seats are from the Right Field Box, Loge Box, Field Box and Dugout Box locations, and are red plastic with either blue or red metal frames. Quantities are limited. More information can be found online at www.redsox.com/seats and by calling 617-226-6800.

Open invitation to fans to join in the Fenway 2012 celebration planning: The Red Sox are encouraging fans to get involved in the anniversary preparation by submitting celebration ideas, sharing personal memories and stories, as well as their memorabilia of historic value. Fans can provide their input and ideas on the 2012 website (www.fenwaypark100.com), by sending an e-mail to fenwaypark100@redsox.com or sending a letter to Fenway 100, 4 Yawkey Way, Boston, MA 02215.

Throughout the 2011 season, the Club will continue preparations for the anniversary celebration, which will include a variety of baseball and other events in 2012, as well as the production of various collectible items to commemorate Fenway Park's rich history. The anniversary celebrations are expected to highlight a range of historical objects and images, multimedia presentations, and exhibits at Fenway Park and other locations. Along with fans and the general public, the Club's owners, corporate sponsors, neighborhood organizations, government and civic leaders, current and former players, and Major League Baseball staff are expected to participate in the planning.

Additional information about Fenway Park's 100th Anniversary celebration plans will be released over the course of this year, along with recognition of additional dates that have historical significance.